River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-03-31
THE BASILISK.
A STORY OF TODAY.
CHAPTER xxx.
TIE BIRDS HAVE FLOWN.

like great rings when a stone has been
hurled into still water. picked my
self up, and found that / was unhurt
The Basilisk's diabolical project. which
had the cab been "a few minutes earlier.
would undoubtedly haze compassed my
destruction. filed me with a fierce de-
termination of revenge l had escaped
them. They should not escape me.
But NJ y, SIN in the power of
Plowitz. Ny first c1remust be for her.
The explosion would gather people to-
Eetfer- The police would soon be on
the spot. could net spare the time to
be subjected 10 the enquiries Of the
police Unjust &c; back 10 Shaw unob-
served, and prosecute to tie utmost our
endeayOrs to trace Mary.
Is got farther away from the scene
Of theeXpIosiou began 70 collect my
thoughts l felt perfect conviction
that the first note was genuine. that
Mary was away, and that Plowitz de-
signed removing her to the Continent,
via Harw.ch. The second note l felt
convinced likewise was a design of the
BasiIisk to DO away with a witness of
the unlawful doiugs Of her home. to
Rvep-e herself on a rival. and to punish
with death one who had refused her
prufcrei love- l scrambled ard Stun
BLEED along. making throu IN hedges and
over the railway bank for the spot
where had left the cab / found it
gone a. / imagined would be the case.
The driver was doubtless one of the
Ba~ili~k'- mTrmdous disguised. Yes.
There had seemed To be something
familiar to me In his voice, disguised As
he was. Il was Grimes, With all the
haste J could make. consistently with
safety, Ipu-hed my way across country,
anxious only to avoid observation and
delay Once I got nearer the road
than / had thought, and crouched close
while hUrryiug feet aHd eager voices
passed. Then the sound of hOTsGs'
hoof- came nearer NJ a furious pace.
and 4 tire-enrine. with its cOmet-like
trail of flying sparks. went laundering
down the road toward FrOgaai- Once
or twice ] thought had lost nv bear
ings. but soon recovered them by com
ing Unexpectedly upon th" hedge that
bOrdered the highway; but l knew the
general direction pretty well by this
time, and finally gained the road. not
more than mile from II. Bartimeus'
aftei anarluOuS cro~s-couutrv journey,
unObserved / found Shaw waiting up
in much anxiety.
s.Yuu are safe, What was that ex-
ploSicn?' was his Immediate enquiry.
Hanover Lodge, I said. Il was
destined to be one of the victims if not
she only one.
Shaw stood petritied with astonish-
ment.
"Good Heaycu~r' exclaimed. As a
new Thought struck ME. Suppose
they have lei her there To perish?''
My dear COpIc>toue. that Is utterly
improbable, said Shaw very decidedly.
..The second note was doubtless trick
10 compass your destruction; but there
was piowitz q be rcckoued with about
Miss Forteseue. and IL would suit the
BaSilisk far more 10 leave her in the
power of mann she loataes than to put
her suddenly TO death. "
That was indeed true. and / took
courage
tome" said he; ''at eleven we have
TO see Inspector Ru>ebu-h again. 1t IS
still early. Take "a little rest, and we
will soon be- on the track again in good
earnest.
For j while slept profoundly. and in
due time we set out once more for
Scotland Yard.
Inspector Rl~eDuSh received us with
an emprcs-meut which showed that he
attached no less Importance now to our
case than he had ON first getting a clue
TO tho identity 81 Pluwitz.
'.They could not have got away last
nicht-thatiS certain, he said They
have not been traced vet, and haven {
gone bv any OF the early boats; but the
longer they remain in England, the
more impossible Is it for them to get
away uuobs,rved. The viii cross this
evening"
This he said after reading the note
from Mrs Hardy, which he retained
without making any observation upon
Il whatever.
There was 4 moments silence, after
which the Inspector handed me a brief
official report of tine dos ruction of Ham
over Lodge. and the presumed death OF
all the inmates looked at Mr.. Rose
bush when ] had read the report.
There was a strange look Of incredulity
on his features.
THAT is a curious coincidence. he
said drily.
then told him Of my accidental
Identification 81 the BISili~k in the cab,
and showed him the second note
lie looked ont Of the window for a
minute or two. holding the note in one
aand. anG tapping the table with tho
6ngcrs IF the other Whatever he
shoucht. he said but little.
At last he dei-ucd TO express an
opinion.
Il don't think there was anybody in
the house.
l knew the Basilisk, and didn't feel at
al sure.
Meanwhile he assured us that every
shing possible was being. and would be-,
lone. FL, regarded the HIrwich route
IS proJiblv the real one, and informed
\ tha, there would be a strict watch
Kept upon the pass myers crossing
that evening. Shaw and re-
solved TO 20 down and watch.
We could 10 no particular good; but !
was frveri-h with anxiety To do some
thiug-to greet Mary As soon as posi-
Elr. Ia witnesses the overthrow of the
william Plowitz's schemes Our inter